While it has traditionally been a custom associated with older Muslim men, khat's use has expanded to include women and younger people. Cathinone is a Schedule I Controlled Substance. Khat is illegal in the United States and Canada, but is legal in many other parts of the world, including Ethiopia, Somalia, Yemen, and Kenya, where is it commonly seen as a food rather than a drug much the way that coffee is viewed in the United States.
Drug Class: Stimulant khat has a stimulant effect when chewed that is similar to the leaves of the coca plant, which is used for making cocaine. Common Side Effects: Increased respiration, elevated blood pressure, heart arrhythmias, and dilated pupils; regular use can cause tooth decay, gum disease, ulcers, and constipation.
Khat leaves are usually green or green-brown. When fresh, the leaves have a glossy appearance. As they dry, they turn leathery yellow-brown. Given its appearance, khat is sometimes mistaken for marijuana. The leaves of the khat plant are often packed together in a bundle and wrapped in banana leaves.
People who use khat typically chew fresh leaves, because the active components of the plant break down quickly as they dry out. Dried leaves are sometimes used as a tea, although the effects are less potent. Khat's effects are similar to those of other stimulants, such as caffeine. People who use khat may become talkative, alert, elated, and experience euphoria.
Some people report feeling increased self-esteem. Others describe increased imagination and ideas. Khat is usually chewed, with people typically holding the chewed leaves in their cheek for several hours, chewing periodically. Chewing sessions typically last 3 to 4 hours. When people from these countries migrate to other parts of the world, they often use the social act of chewing khat to maintain a sense of connection to their community. The practice has lead to the development of an international drug trade for khat.
According to the World Health Organization WHO , the effects of khat consumption are similar to those of strong coffee. Research published in suggested the effects of khat are seen in the central nervous, cardiovascular, respiratory, endocrine, gastrointestinal, and genitourinary systems. Khat has no approved or evidence-based medical uses in the United States.
In countries where its sale and use are legal, khat is sometimes used to treat fatigue, headaches, colds, and depression. Since it is only a mild stimulant, people sometimes mistakenly believe that khat does not have any serious side effects. But though khat is a relatively low-risk drug, it's associated with an increased risk for a variety of medical complications, including:. It's unclear whether the health risks associated with khat use are directly related to the drug cathinone, the consumption of caffeinated drinks that intensify the high, or if they're partially related to inhalation of second-hand smoke in poorly ventilated chewing houses.
Additionally, many people who use khat do not wash the leaves before chewing they believe washing the leaves will reduce the drug's potency , so some of these health problems may also be the result of toxic pesticides. Mental health conditions associated with khat use, including psychosis , have been documented but are not well understood. Khat use is also associated with symptoms of depression, mood swings, and violent behavior. Research has indicated that khat use can cause relationship and social difficulties, particularly when its use takes men away from their families for extended periods and when a large amount of money is spent on the drug.
Over the last few decades, a small number of deaths have been identified by researchers as being directly or indirectly associated with the use of khat. If you are concerned that a loved one is using khat, there are some behavior and physical signs and symptoms you can look for. Signs that someone is using khat can include:. Chewing khat releases the drug slowly. It does not produce the immediate and intense high of addictive drugs such as cocaine and meth.
Khat chewing is traditionally an all-male social activity. Women who chew khat tend to do so alone and in secrecy, putting them at increased risk for dependence. Once consumed, the effects of khat peak after approximately 15 to 30 minutes.
The drug has a half-life of approximately three hours. Khat might be an addictive drug. The substance is believed to create a physical addiction similar to that of caffeine.
However, it is hard to differentiate dependence from addiction to the psychoactive compounds in khat, as there is a lack of criteria to make such a determination. Research has found that khat use is often associated with the use of other addictive substances. For example, a study of Yemeni subjects living in the UK found an association between nicotine use and khat chewing. The effects on the central nervous system resemble those of amphetamine with differences being quantitative.
Since this is a major social issue particularly in the East Africa, raising awareness with the general public in terms of the harmful effects of khat-chewing. This can be accomplished via appropriate communication strategies by using printed materials and electronic media. Conflicts of Interest. National Center for Biotechnology Information , U. Journal List Addict Health v. Addict Health. Nasir Tajure Wabe 1. Find articles by Nasir Tajure Wabe. Author information Article notes Copyright and License information Disclaimer.
Correspondence to: Nasir Tajure Wabe, Email: te. Received Dec 22; Accepted Apr This article has been cited by other articles in PMC. Abstract Catha edulis khat is a plant grown commonly in the horn of Africa. Introduction Khat is a natural stimulant from the Catha edulis plant that is cultivated in the Republic of Yemen and most of the countries of East Africa. Reasons for chewing khat and behaviors associated with the ritual of khat chewing The vast majority of those ingesting khat do so by chewing.
Chemistry Khat contains more than forty alkaloids, glycosides, tannins, amino acids, vitamins and minerals. Open in a separate window. Figure 1. Figure 2. Pharmacologic effects of Khat Khat contains many different compounds and therefore khat chewing may have many different effects.
Animal Studies Behavioral effects Rats fed C. Cardiovascular effects Cathinone has vasoconstrictor activity in isolated perfused hearts from guinea pigs. Effects on the reproductive system Animal data are conflicting. Human Studies The main effects of khat chewing are on the central and peripheral nervous system, and on the oro-gastro-intestinal system Table 1. Table 1 Reported and suggested adverse effects of khat in human 9.
System Adverse effects Cardiovascular system tachycardia, palpitations, hypertension, arrhythmias, vasoconstriction, myocardial infarction, cerebral hemorrhage, pulmonary edema Respiratory system tachypnea, bronchitis Gastro-intestinal system dry mouth, polydipsia, dental caries, periodontal disease, chronic gastritis, constipation, hemorrhoids, paralytic ileus, weight loss, duodenal ulcer, upper gastro-intestinal malignancy Hepatobiliary system fibrosis, cirrhosis Genito-urinary system urinary retention, spermatorrhea, spermatozoa malformations, impotence, libido change Obstetric effects low birth weight, stillbirths, impaired lactation Metabolic and endocrine effects hyperthermia, perspiration, hyperglycemia Ocular effects blurred vision, mydriasis Central nervous system dizziness, impaired cognitive functioning, fine tremor, insomnia, headaches Psychiatric effects lethargy, irritability, anorexia, psychotic reactions, depressive reactions, hypnagogic hallucinations.
Toxicologic aspect of khat Khat usage affects cardiovascular, digestive, respiratory, endocrine, and genito-urinary systems. Khat-induced psychosis Khat chewing can induce two kinds of psychotic reactions. Hypnagogic hallucinations Hypnagogic hallucinations have been reported in chronic khat users. Impairment of cognitive functions Adverse effects of khat chewing include impairment of perceptual-visual memory and decision-speed cognitive functions.
Neurological complications One case history of severe leukoencephalopathy associated with khat misuse has been reported. Cardiovascular complications An increased incidence of acute myocardial infarction presenting between 2 pm and midnight, i. Oral and gastro-intestinal complications As a consequence of its mode of consumption, khat affects the oral cavity and the digestive tract. Cancer In a survey that reviewed cancers for the past two years in the Asir region of Saudi Arabia, 28 patients with head and neck cancer were found.
Reproductive system Detailed studies on the effects of khat on human reproduction are lacking. Genotoxicity and teratogenic effects Orally administered khat extract induced dominant lethal mutations in mice, 47 chromosomal aberrations in sperm cells in mice, and teratogenic effects in rats.
Conclusion Several studies across the globe have reported khat-chewing as a harmful activity on health. Footnotes Conflicts of Interest The Authors have no conflict of interest. Ageely HM. Prevalence of Khat chewing in college and secondary high school students of Jazan region, Saudi Arabia. Harm Reduct J. Luqman W, Danowski TS. The use of khat Catha edulis in Yemen. Social and medical observations. Ann Intern Med. Tolerance develops to sympathetic effects of khat in humans.
Kalix P. Khat: a plant with amphetamine effects. J Subst Abuse Treat. A medical evaluation of the use of qat in North Yemen. Soc Sci Med. Halbach H. Medical aspects of the chewing of khat leaves. Bull World Health Organ. Geisshusler S, Brenneisen R. The content of psychoactive phenylpropyl and phenylpentenyl khatamines in Catha edulis Forsk. J Ethnopharmacol. Khat: pharmacological and medical aspects and its social use in Yemen.
Phytother Res. Cox G, Rampes H. Adverse effects of khat: a review. Advances in Psychiatric Treatment. Nencini P, Ahmed AM. Khat consumption: a pharmacological review. Drug Alcohol Depend. Kalix P, Braenden O. Pharmacological aspects of the chewing of khat leaves. Pharmacol Rev. Rapid Commun Mass Spectrom. The effect of phenylpentenyl-khatamines on the release of radioactivity from rat striatal tissue prelabelled with [3H]dopamine.
J Pharm Pharmacol. Differential effect of phenylpropyl- and phenylpentenyl-khatamines on the release of radioactivity from rabbit atria prelabelled with 3H-noradrenaline. Pharm Acta Helv. World Health Organization.
Review of the pharmacology of khat Review of the pharmacology of khat. Bull Narc. Brenneisen R, Geisshusler S. Psychotropic drugs. Analytical and chemical aspects of Catha edulis Forsk. Pharmacokinetics of cathinone, cathine and norephedrine after the chewing of khat leaves. Br J Clin Pharmacol.
Pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of khat: a controlled study. Clin Pharmacol Ther. The subjective effects of chewing Qat leaves in human volunteers. Ann Saudi Med. Maitai CK. The toxicity of the plant Catha edulis in rats. Evaluation of teratogenic potential of khat Catha edulis Forsk. Drug Chem Toxicol. Yanagita T. Studies on cathinones: cardiovascular and behavioral effects in rats and self-administration experiment in rhesus monkeys.
Schechter MD. Dopaminergic mediation of a behavioral effect of l-cathinone. Pharmacol Biochem Behav. Differential effects of nicotine but not cathinone on motor activity of P and NP rats. Increases in the locomotor activity of rats after intracerebral administration of cathinone. Brain Res Bull. Hypermotility of the amphetamine type induced by a constituent of khat leaves. Br J Pharmacol. Behavioural effects of cathinone, an amine obtained from Catha edulis Forsk: comparisons with amphetamine, norpseudoephedrine, apomorphine and nomifensine.
Goudie AJ. Comparative effects of cathinone and amphetamine on fixed-interval operant responding: a rate-dependency analysis. Repeated Catha edulis oral administration enhances the baseline aggressive behavior in isolated rats. J Neural Transm. Reducing the time needed to conduct conditioned place preference testing.
Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry. Conditioned place preference produced by the psychostimulant cathinone. Eur J Pharmacol. Cathinone, cocaine and methamphetamine: similarity of behavioral effects.
Relative potencies of two phenylalkylamines found in the abused plant Catha edulis, khat. Life Sci. Psychostimulant-induced activity is attenuated by two putative dopamine release inhibitors.
Huang D, Wilson MC. Comparative discriminative stimulus properties of dl-cathinone, d-amphetamine, and cocaine in rats. Effect of the alkaloid - -cathinone on the release of radioactivity from rat striatal tissue prelabelled with 3H-serotonin. Behavioural sensitisation following repeated intermittent oral administration of Catha edulis in rats. Behav Brain Res. Clozapine attenuates the locomotor sensitisation and the prepulse inhibition deficit induced by a repeated oral administration of Catha edulis extract and cathinone in rats.
Coronary and aortic vasoconstriction by cathinone, the active constituent of khat. Auton Autacoid Pharmacol.
Effects of amphetamine derivatives and cathinone on noradrenaline-evoked contractions of rat right ventricle. Cleary L, Docherty JR. Actions of amphetamine derivatives and cathinone at the noradrenaline transporter. Amphetamine-like effects in humans of the khat alkaloid cathinone. Khat chewing and acute myocardial infarction. Khat chewing is a risk factor for acute myocardial infarction: a case-control study. Biochemical effects of Catha edulis, cathine and cathinone on adrenocortical functions.
Catha edulis can often be seen growing alongside coffee plants, as both like similar conditions. The flowers of khat are greenish-white to cream, small and appear in clusters on the leaf axils in spring. By autumn, they have fertilized and turned into reddish-brown, three-lobed seed pods that split open to reveal winged seeds that are carried away in the wind, ready to find a new home where they can hopefully grow into new plants.
Catha comes from the Arabic word khat, which is the local name for this plant. Edulis comes from a greek word meaning edible. While edible may not be the exact term for it, khat is certainly chewed by its users, much as cows chew their cuds. The leaves and stems are all chewed, and up to 10 million people per day chew khat daily. This includes men, women, and children, through Africa and Asia. Khat even featured in ancient Egyptian culture.
Khat contains a stimulant called cathinone, which acts like an amphetamine giving rise to anxiousness and irritability, after a period of excitability and euphoria. The World Health Organization defined it as a 'drug of abuse' in , despite it being believed to less addictive than either alcohol or cigarettes. While Catha edulis is legal in plenty countries throughout the world, it is illegal in some. If you plan to grow any, check your local laws first.
Ah, I'd love to grow these trees, but I don't think it would work in Oregon, where it freezes. Im growing myself khat! Nice add to plants that you can grow and enjoy it ;.
Batman hasn't ever had khat by the sounds of it. Is very potent similar to dexidrine or good quality cocaine. If you are lucky enough to get it nowadays blend it and soak a bundle it is sold in bundles of similar size it in pure lemon juice for 24 hours drain and drink. One bundle which used to sell for 3 pounds in the UK is plenty for a man and half for a lady.
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